The 2022 World Cup in Qatar begins on 21 November as 32 teams aim to reach the final and become world champions on 18 December.
The tournament will be the first to be held in the Arab world and only the second to take place in Asia, after Japan and South Korea joint-hosted the event in 2002. This edition will be the last to feature just 32 teams, with the tournament being expanded from 2026 inwards in order to feature 48 nations.
Reigning champions France will be among the favourites, though no team has successfully defended the World Cup since Brazil in 1962, alongside fellow European sides England, Spain, and Belgium. Brazil and Argentina will also likely feature in the knockout stages, while Senegal could represent Africa’s biggest hopes of winning for the first time.
England will meet either Wales or Scotland if either of their UK neighbors make it out of the play-offs, in Group B with USA and Iran. Spain and Germany have been drawn in a tough-looking Group E with Japan and either Costa Rica or New Zealand, while Portugal meet Ghana, Uruguay and South Korea in a well-balanced Group H.
Hosts Qatar start their tournament against Ecuador, before taking on Senegal and Netherlands – the latter duo will be the first match of the 2022 World Cup.
Because of excessive summer temperatures in the Gulf state, the Qatar World Cup will be the first to be staged in winter rather than summer.
Key dates
Group stage: November 21 to December 2
Round of 16: December 3-6
Quarter-finals: December 9-10
Semi-finals: December 13-14
Final: December 18
Kick-off times
The first two rounds of matches will kick off at 1pm, 4pm, 7pm and 10pm in Qatar (10am, 1pm, 4pm and 7pm in the UK).
The final round of group games and all knockout matches will be at 6pm and 10pm in Qatar (3pm and 7pm).
The final is set for 6pm locally (3pm).
Full fixture schedule
Group A: Qatar, Ecuador, Senegal, Netherlands.
21 November 2022, 13:00, Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor.
Qatar v Ecuador
November 21, 2022
Senegal v Netherlands
November 25, 2022
Qatar v Senegal
November 25, 2022
Netherlands v Ecuador
November 29, 2022
Netherlands v Qatar
November 29, 2022
Ecuador v Senegal
Group B: England, Iran, USA, Wales/Scotland/Ukraine.
November 21, 2022
England v Iran
November 21, 2022
United States v UEFA Path A winners
November 25, 2022
England v United States
November 25, 2022
UEFA Path A winners v Iran
November 29, 2022
UEFA Path A winners v England
November 29, 2022
Iran v United States
Group C: Argentina, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Poland.
November 22, 2022
Argentina v Saudi Arabia
November 22, 2022
Mexico v Poland
November 26, 2022
Argentina v Mexico
November 26, 2022
Poland v Saudi Arabia
November 30, 2022
Poland v Argentina
November 30, 2022
Saudi Arabia v Mexico
Group D: France, Peru/Australia/UAE, Denmark, Tunisia.
November 22, 2022
France v AFC–CONMEBOL winners
November 22, 2022
Denmark v Tunisia
November 26, 2022
France v Denmark
November 26, 2022
Tunisia v AFC–CONMEBOL winners
November 30, 2022
Tunisia v France
November 30, 2022
AFC–CONMEBOL winners v Denmark
Group: Spain, Costa Rica/New Zealand, Germany, Japan.
November 23, 2022
Spain v CONCACAF–OFC winners
November 23, 2022
Germany v Japan
November 27, 2022
Spain v Germany
November 27, 2022
Japan v CONCACAF–OFC winners
December 1, 2022
Japan v Spain
December 1, 2022
CONCACAF–OFC winners v Germany
Group F: Belgium, Canada, Morocco, Croatia.
November 23, 2022
Belgium v Canada
November 23, 2022
Morocco v Croatia
November 27, 2022
Belgium v Morocco
November 27, 2022
Croatia v Canada
December 1, 2022
Croatia v Belgium
December 1, 2022
Canada v Morocco
Group G: Brazil, Serbia, Switzerland, Cameroon.
November 24, 2022
Brazil v Serbia
November 24, 2022
Switzerland v Cameroon
November 28, 2022
Brazil v Switzerland
November 28, 2022
Cameroon v Serbia
December 2, 2022
Cameroon v Brazil
December 2, 2022
Serbia v Switzerland
Group H: Portugal, Ghana, Uruguay, South Korea
November 24, 2022
Portugal v Ghana
November 24, 2022
Uruguay v South Korea
November 28, 2022
Portugal v Uruguay
November 28, 2022
South Korea v Ghana
December 2, 2022
South Korea v Portugal
December 2, 2022
Ghana v Uruguay